Official pay data
Updated 8 October 2026
Salary guide
Official annual estimates for the whole country, mapped to the closest published occupation.
United Kingdom · gross annual earnings estimate
25th percentile
£18,789
Median
£21,239
75th percentile
£24,152
This ASHE benchmark covers full-time employee jobs, not self-employed income or part-time jobs. ASHE gross earnings include basic pay, overtime, incentive pay such as bonuses and commissions, shift premiums, and other cash pay. They are before deductions, exclude payments in kind, and are not take-home pay or the whole benefits package. Compare the benchmark with an offer on the same working-hours and annual-pay basis.
This is a country-level occupation benchmark, not a local offer estimate. Pay can differ by location, employer, duties, and working pattern.
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. Mapped to Teaching assistants; the occupation is broader than the page role. Figures are estimates, not advertised salaries.
This national benchmark is a useful comparison point for Teaching Assistant roles because it covers the mapped occupation of teaching assistants. The role commonly centres on helping pupils with set work, learning objectives and staying on task; individual posts can also include small-group support, progress reporting or classroom preparation.
Benchmark fit
The benchmark maps directly to the broad occupation "Teaching assistants", so it is the appropriate national starting point for a Teaching Assistant offer. Its scope fits pupil learning support, but it does not turn every possible assignment into a standard duty for every post.
The benchmark is not a separate estimate for higher level teaching assistants or qualified teachers. With experience, a teaching assistant may pursue either route, but those are progression options rather than ordinary duties of every Teaching Assistant role.
Role scope
Teaching Assistants help pupils engage with set work, understand learning objectives and stay on task. They can also support pupils' social and emotional development and help teachers promote positive behaviour.
Work with individual pupils and small groups. · Watch, record and report pupil progress. · Help teachers prepare materials or set up classrooms for lessons where the post requires it. · Look after pupils who are upset or unwell, where this forms part of the role. · Lead classes or activities with help from the teacher in posts that include this assignment.
Pupils receive support to understand their assigned work and remain focused on their learning objectives. · Progress may be observed, recorded and reported as part of the post.
This is a possible progression route for an experienced teaching assistant, not a label that should be assumed for every Teaching Assistant role.
Training to become a qualified teacher is a possible later route, rather than part of the Teaching Assistant benchmark.
Read the range
When comparing offers, read the job description alongside the benchmark. A post focused on helping pupils with set work may differ in day-to-day scope from one that also asks for small-group support, progress reporting, classroom preparation or activities led with teacher help.
One quarter of employees earn below this figure.
Half of employees earn below this figure and half above it; it is not the arithmetic midpoint of the displayed range.
One quarter of employees earn above this figure.
Location
Supplementary regional benchmarks are available for selected UK regions.
| Region | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Not published | £20,998 | Not published |
| East Midlands | Not published | £21,060 | Not published |
| London | Not published | £24,488 | Not published |
| North East | Not published | £22,587 | Not published |
| North West | Not published | £21,247 | Not published |
| Scotland | Not published | £22,021 | Not published |
| South East | Not published | £19,930 | Not published |
| South West | Not published | £19,354 | Not published |
| Wales | Not published | £20,853 | Not published |
| West Midlands | Not published | £20,728 | Not published |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | Not published | £19,385 | Not published |
Use the national figure as the main comparison: it is not a local offer estimate, and pay can differ by location, employer, duties and working pattern.
Beyond salary
Compare the offer on the same annual-pay and working-hours basis as the benchmark. Then separate fixed pay from any conditional cash payment and assess benefits under the terms actually offered.
Confirm the stated annual pay and contracted hours before comparing it with the benchmark.
Check whether any such cash payments are available, the conditions for receiving them and whether the advertised figure includes them.
Review each benefit's eligibility, value and terms separately because non-cash benefits are not part of gross earnings.
Progression
With experience, a Teaching Assistant may take a course towards higher level teaching assistant status or train to become a qualified teacher.
This is a possible course-based progression route after gaining experience; it is not an automatic change within every Teaching Assistant post. Treat this as a different progression path, not as a salary level within the Teaching Assistant benchmark.
Training to become a qualified teacher is another possible route for a teaching assistant. Do not use the Teaching Assistant benchmark as an estimate for a qualified teacher role.
Offer review
Questions
Source
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. The figures cover Teaching assistants (6112) and full time employee jobs. Updated 8 October 2026. This broad occupation benchmark may not match every Teaching Assistant vacancy.
Put the benchmark to work
Use the salary range as context. Tailor your CV around the experience that supports your target level.
